"Then again, there is no way a small economy like Ireland could now borrow at near 0% if we had our own currency."

You can do so today because the ECB has set the interest rate near zero. Most large countries have done likewise. There is presently such a dearth of borrowers that most small countries could likely find investors willing to lend cheaply and denominate the loan in the local currency - provided there were reasonable prospects for repayment. They would simply buy instruments on the FX market to insure against currency fluctuations, which would add to the cost of the loan.

If you had your own currency you could also set the rate low unless you  were compelled by internal or balance of trade issues to attract foreign investment. But the purchases that a government with a sovereign fiat currency can make in its domestic economy ARE constrained by the availability of those resources in that country, be those resources labor or materials. So, if there is a shortage of lumber due  to deforestation, build with brick, stone or any import material that is available cheaply, provided you have exports the world wants.

"It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."